Public Policy Accomplishments

The Alzheimer's Association has worked hard to have legislation introduced and passed that will ensure improved care for Alzheimer's individuals.

As a result of our advocacy efforts, the following pieces of legislation have been signed into law.

P.L. 2007, c. 66, sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden Jr. and Barbara Buono, and Assemblymen Joseph Vas, Joseph J. Roberts Jr., Herb Conaway, and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainier Huttle; and co-sponsored by Senator Joseph Vitale and Assemblymen Jack Conners, Robert M. Gordon and Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez, permanently declares the 1st Monday of November as Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Day in New Jersey. The Governor and the Legislature urge all citizens to recognize "Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month" and "Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Day," and to provide encouragement and assistance to those organizations that offer educational, advocacy and support services for Alzheimer's victims and their caregivers.

P.L.2005, c.72, sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph Cryan and Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson; co-sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden Jr., Stephen M. Sweeney, Barbara Buono, Diane B. Allen and Assemblymen Reed Gusciora, Upendra J. Chivukula, Frederick Scalera, Louis M. Manzo, Peter C. Eagler, Jack Conners and Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein, permanently requires Department of Law and Public Safety to establish policy for State Police and local law enforcement in working with Safe Return Program to recover lost individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders. Safe Return is a national identification, support and registration program working in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies to safely return individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, who become lost, to their families and caregivers; and it is in the interest of protecting the health and welfare of our State residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders to establish a requirement that all State Police and local law enforcement personnel receive instruction on the utilization of the Safe Return program to facilitate the safe recovery of those who wander off and become lost.

P.L. 2003, c. 268, sponsored by Senators Robert Singer and Joseph Vitale, and Assemblymen Craig Stanley, Robert Smith, and Gary Guear; and co-sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner and Diane Allen, and Assemblymen Jeff Van Drew, Sean Kean, Alfred Steele and Herb Conaway, requires any long-term care facility that provides specialized care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, to provide potential clients with a clear and concise written list indicating the services provided in relation to the care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

P.L.2003, c.269, sponsored by Senators Robert Singer and Joseph Vitale, and Assemblymen Craig Stanley, John Burzichelli and Douglas Fisher; and co-sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner and Diane Allen, and Assemblymen Jeff Van Drew, Sean Kean, Alfred Steele and Gary Guear, requires a mandatory training progam be established for certified nurse aides, licensed practical nurses, registered professional nurses and other healthcare professionals who provide direct care to individuals in a long-term care facility, in the specialized care of individuals diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease.

Your input is always important! If you would like to share your thoughts on issues you think we should address this year, please click here to fill out an advocate survey, or call Leena Shah at 609-275-1180 or email at leena.shah@alznj.org.